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XLR8 Information FAQ - Nomenclature / Understanding Product Names

1. What do all the different product names mean?

Each product in the CPU upgrade lines are name specifically for their speed, type, CPU and application. First you need to understand some terms... XLR8 style:

  • "MACh" is an XLR8 brand for CPU upgrade.
  • "Speed" (as a part of the name is an additional definer of CPU upgrade.
  • "Carrier" refers to the patent pending design of the ZIF-to-PowerSurge adapter.
  • "ZIF" refers to the industry standard Zero Insertion Force socket for CPU modules.
  • "MPe" is short for Multiprocessing enabled.
    • This is for the ZIFs that include the MP cache signal. Since all current XLR8 upgrades are MPe, the notation was dropped from the product description.
    • This also defines the 3/4 sized CarrierZIF design without the SSE fix below.
  • "SSE" is short for Six Slot Enabled. It refers to a hardware design modification that fixes a bug in the 6 slot Mac PCI standard. The bug limited the ability to run bus master cards in the bottom three slots (a problem for users of 4 or bus master cards, like Pro Tools). The SSE fix can be noted by a small 3/8 inch square PAL chip in the lower right corner area (MPe only has a blank solder pad). Note the SSE was a modification to the MPe version of the CarrierZIF adapter. Since all SSEs are MPe by definition, the MPe has been dropped.

So, looking at the specific product names:

  • MAChSpeed is a CPU upgrade.
  • MAChCarrier is a CPU upgrade using Carrier Technology.
  • CarrierZIF is a CPU adapter for using ZIF modules in PowerSurge (7300-9600) systems.

On the complete name:

The speed is the first number. CPU type and special applications are included afterwards - usually defined by the Apple "code name" for the product. As follows:

  • 300 MAChSpeed G3 original all in one upgrade).
  • 400 MAChSpeed G4 ZIF (CPU upgrade for ZIF systems, now all MPe).
  • 400 MAChSpeed G4 ZIF MPe (same as above now)
  • 400 MAChSpeed G4 Sawtooth (CPU upgrade for AGP/Gigabit "Sawtooth" systems)
  • 500 MAChSpeed G4 Pismo (CPU upgrade for the FireWire PowerBook G3 "Pismo")
  • CarrierZIF adapter (carrier technology + ZIF adapter)
  • CarrierZIF MPe adapter (carrier technology + ZIF + MPe design)
  • CarrierZIF SSE adapter (carrier technology + ZIF + MPe + SSE design)
  • 400 MAChCarrier G4 (CarrierZIF + MACh Speed ZIF)
  • 400 MACh Carrier G4 MPe CarrierZIF + MAChSpeed ZIF + MPe design)
  • 400 MACh Carrier G4 SSE CarrierZIF + MAChSpeed ZIF + MPe + SSE design)


        2. What is the difference between the MAChCarrier, the Carrier ZIF and the MAChSpeed G3?

        The G3 processor on the MAChSpeed G3 series CPU cards is permanently attached to the board and cannot be replaced.

        The MAChCarrier G3 combination is radically different in that the G3 ZIF daughtercard is inserted into a Zero Insertion Force slot (identical to that on the Apples G3 systems) allowing the processor to be replaced. This unprecedented flexibility allows for easy upgrading to future processors as they are released.

        The CarrierZIF is simply the Adapter only without the ZIF CPU (users can add their own G3/G4 ZIF from XLR8, Apple or third parties.


        3. What is the difference between the MAChCarrier and the Carrier ZIF?

        The difference between the MAChCarrier G3 and the Carrier ZIF is the MAChCarrier comes with an XLR8 ZIF module on-board, as the Carrier ZIF is only the adapter.

        In theory it is limited only by the CPU multiplier, 7400s (G4s) are limited to a 9 x multiplier so the speed is limited to 450 MHz (9x50). A 7450 has a 16x multiplier, (600 and up MHz) but no one has a 7450 form factor that fits.

        .